A. The funny thing to me was how much of a slacker the guy really was at first. He didn't really have any ambition to do anything. He was always extremely observant, careful, and mindful of his surroundings, but for a really long time he never had that buzz to succeed or do anything else. It wasn't until an experience with MacFarland that he really buckled down, and for lack of a better word really gave a shit. But once he started giving himself the actual chance to succeed he was extraordinary. He became completely captivated by all these things he was experiencing and all the stuff he was reading. The guy was naming a zillion different authors as if they were almost like appendages to him. His education influenced him because it gave him the confidence he needed in order to succeed. He always had it but didn't realize it until he really tried to.
B.As far as the individual cues that he talks about, I think that it is more of a metaphor for noticing what other people are doing around him. He always noticed things but just went idly by until MacFarland. He took a lot of cues from him. And the thing is that they weren't limited to just educational cues either. I thought he learned a couple of social ones too. Cues play a role in identity because I feel that a lot of people when confused about their own identity, try to take a semblance of someone else's. And then they just build on that.
Heya, Alex.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great response--particularly, in part A! Your writing is really starting to develop--you are starting to establish such a strong voice, that's clear but also unique to you n' your thoughts! The notion of "appendages" is really interesting! I'm really excited to read your memoir!